There is no famine in Gaza: the data confirms it

The tragic accidental deaths of seven food aid workers in an IDF airstrike has sparked increased interest in one of the main accusations against the Jewish state’s humanitarian and justified war against Hamas: that Israel’s attacks are causing starvation in Gaza.

The claim is succinctly summarized by Josep Borrell, the EU’s representative for foreign affairs and security, in his mid-March statement that “starvation is being used as a weapon of war. Israel is provoking famine.”

However, the data indicates that this, like many other allegations against Israel, is simply inaccurate.

To begin with, nearly 300,000 tons of food and beverages have been supplied to Gaza since the start of the war.

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Office’s guidelines, this amount alone should be sufficient to cover approximately half of the food requirements of Gazans (provided they are fully distributed).

In addition, as of mid-February (according to the latest UN survey), the vast majority of Gaza’s greenhouse acreage was still intact — and the Strip was exporting fruit and vegetables until Hamas violated the ceasefire with its mass terrorist attack on Israel on October 7.

Furthermore, all the combat and bombing has been concentrated in urban areas, where Hamas’ 600 miles of tunnels and bases are located.

It is noteworthy that the plan proposed by President Biden to construct a pier off Gaza to provide approximately 2 million meals per day was initially suggested by none other than Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the early weeks of the war.

Why would a nation supposedly intent on “using famine as a weapon of war” behave in such a self-defeating manner?

Could it be that the issue does not lie with Israel, which is making extraordinary efforts to minimize civilian casualties in the war?

Perhaps the blame lies instead with the group that initially endangered civilians — Hamas?

We have concrete evidence that Hamas misappropriates financial aid and essential supplies intended for Palestinians for its own members.

We also know that Hamas provides false information about the number and composition of civilian casualties in the conflict.

In other words, all indications point to them as the true culprits in this situation.

But reality has never deterred the delusional antisemites at the UN, within the Biden administration, or elsewhere in the past.

And it will not stop them now.